Hydromassage tub assembly

ABSTRACT

A hydromassage tub assembly involving a tub in which one end is contoured with a relatively steep end wall and associated arm rests to provide a back rest and arm supports for relaxed sitting posture, while the opposite end of the tub is contoured with an end wall of shallow slope to permit of a comfortable substantially full reclining position by an occupant of such tub. A jet assembly is installed in the end of each arm rest to provide general hydromassage action, while a jet assembly installed in the back rest end wall provides hydromassage action directly to the neck, shoulders and back while in the sitting posture.

United States Patent Jacuzzi et al. june 5, 1973 [54] HYDROMASSAGE TUB ASSEMBLY 3,636,944 1 1972 Bryant ..4/l80 [75] Inventors: Roy A. Jacuzzi, Moraga; Peter L. Prim y ExammerLawrence W. Tra Kosta, Lafayette, both of Calif. Attorney-Edward Brosler pp [73] Assignee: Jacuzzi Research, Inc., Berkeley,

C lif, [57] ABSTRACT [22] Fil d; J 26 1972 A hydromassage tub assembly involving a tub in which one end is contoured with a relatively steep end wall [21] App! 220313 and associated arm rests to provide a back rest and arm supports for relaxed sitting posture, while the op- 52 US. Cl ..128/66, 4/180 Posite end of the tub is contoured with an end Wall of 51 Int. Cl. ..A6lh 9/00 shallOW F to Permit of Cmfrtab1e Substantially 58 Field of Search ..128/66; 4/178, 180 full reclining POSMO by Such A jet assembly is installed in the end of each arm rest to provide general hydromassage action, while a jet as- [56] References Clted sembly installed in the back rest end wall provides UNITED STATES PATENTS hydromassage action directly to the neck, shoulders and back while in the sitting posture. 3,374,492 3/1968 Ruderian ..4/l78 3,483,863 12/1969 DeVane ..l28/66 6 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures HYDROMASSAGE TUB ASSEMBLY Our invention relates to hydromassage equipment and more particularly to hydromassage equipment of the bathtub type.

Among the objects of our invention are:

I. To provide novel and improved hydromassage equipment of the bathtub type;

2. To provide novel and improved hydromassage equipment of the bathtub type, which provides more comfort to the individual while utilizing such equipment;

3. To provide novel and improved hydromassage equipment of the bathtub type, which will allow an occupant to comfortably select either a sitting or reclining position while exposing oneself to the hydromassage action of one or preferably a plurality of installed jet assemblies;

4. To provide novel and improved hydromassage equipment of the bathtub type which will provide direct hydromassage action to ones neck, shoulders and back.

Additional objects of our inveniton will be brought out in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the same, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein;

FIG. 1 is a view looking down into a hydromassage tub assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of such hydromassage tub assembly, exposing the location of the built in pump and associated plumbing, as indicated by arrows 2-2 of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings for details of our invention in its preferred form, the same comprises a bathtub 1 having an elongated cavity 3 formed by side walls 5 and 7 and end walls 9 and 11 rising from the floor 13 of the tub, and surrounded by a flange 15. The flange portion along the side wall 5 connects with an apron 17 depending therefrom.

Along each side wall, adjacent the end wall 9, is an arm rest 21, which terminates in a substantially vertical wall 23, in which wall, is installed a jet assembly 25.

Each of the jet assemblies is preferably of the type i1- lustrated and described in the patent to Roy A. Jacuzzi for Hydro-Air Jet Head Assembly, US. Pat. No. 3,540,438 of Nov. 17, 1970, such jet head assembly including a directional nozzle 27 with provision for an air intake tube behind the mounting wall of the arm rest. In lieu of a separate air intake tube for each jet head assembly, we utilize a single tube having branches connecting with the jet head assemblies, the single tube extending upwardly to a point above contemplated water level in the tub, at which point it passes through the wall of the tub at a convenient location, where it terminates in an air intake adjustment valve 29.

In the aforementioned end wall 9 of the tub, at an elevation just below contemplated water level of the tub, is installed another jet head assembly 31. This jet head assembly, though it may also be of the type installed in the end walls of the armrests, is preferably in the form of a fixed direction nozzle with an air intake opening behind the wall of the tub.

The air intake to this nozzle may be through an adjustable air intake valve 33 installed at a convenient location, directly opposite the first air intake valve 29, such valve being connected to the jet head assembly 31 by a hose 35.

The arm rests 21 and associated end wall 9 permit of a relaxed sitting posture, while enjoying the effects of the general hydromassage action of the arm rest jet head assemblies and the direct jet action against the neck, shoulders and back. For added comfort, this end wall may be sloped somewhat along a relatively steep incline.

The end wall 11 of the tub opposite the back rest end wall, follows a very shallow slope down to the floor of the tub to permit of a comfortable substantially full reclining position in the tub facing in the reverse direction from that of an individual utilizing the arm rests, the slope of this end wall being so shallow as to enable such substantially full reclining position while just maintaining ones head above water. In this position, the individual can still receive the full benefits of the hydromassage action taking place within the tub.

At a location in the aforementioned end wall 9, below the jet head assembly 31 and adjacent the floor of the tub, there is installed a pump suction fitting 41 whereby water may be withdrawn under the suction of a pump 45, the discharge from which is conducted to the various jet head assemblies by suitable piping.

In addition to the foregoing features, an additional feature of the present invention lies in the fact that the pump and all associated plumbing are installed within the outer confines of the tub. This becomes of considerable importance when installing a tub, in that all the plumbing associated with the hydromassage system can be installed at the factory and is self-contained and can be shipped as a package. The only plumbing required in an installation is to (I) connect the water supply to a spigot assembly 51 which may be mounted at a suitable location on the flange of the tub, and (2) connect a drain 53, located in the floor of the tub, to a sewer line, the spigot assembly being used to fill the tub preliminary to initiating the hydromassage action, while the drain may be opened to drain the tub when it is desired to do so.

In order to accomplish such installation of the hydromassage system within the outer confines of the tub, a platform 57 is installed at the one end of the tub between the apron 17 and the back rest end wall 9, such platform serving as a mounting for the pump 45, the suction end of which is connected to the suction fitting 41 while the discharge end of the pump is connected to piping 59 which extends along the outside of each side wall of the tub fpr connection to each of the arm rest jet head assemblies 25, the jet head assembly in the back rest end wall being supplied from this piping by means of a hose 61.

A wall mounted switch or timer (not shown) may be used to control pump operation.

It is noted that the location of the various jet head assemblies with respect to the suction line fitting, will produce a reversing flow path of water emerging from the jet head assemblies and exiting through the pump suction fitting, thereby assuring more effective turbulence.

The tub as thus described is a two-way affair, enabling an individual to alter his position from a sitting posture to a reclining one, at the same time reversing direction with respect to the jet head assemblies, whereby one may be assured of exposing his entire body to the hydromassage action.

While we have illustrated and described our invention in its preferred form, it will be apparent that the same is subject to alteration and modification without departing from the underlying principles involved, and we accordingly do not desire to be limited in our protection to the specific details illustrated and described except as may be necessitated by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A hydromassage tub assembly comprising a bathtub having an elongated cavity bounded in part by side walls and an end wall, an arm rest along each side wall adjacent said end wall and terminating in a substantially vertical wall, and a hydromassage jet head assembly installed in each of said arm rest vertical walls.

2. A hydromassage tub assembly in accordance with claim 1, characterized by a hydromassage jet head assembly installed in said end wall.

3. A hydromassage tub assembly in accordance with claim 1, characterized by a second end wall opposite said first end wall, said second end wall being of shallow slope to permit of a comfortable substantially full reclining position in said tub, while said first end wall with said arm rests permit of a relaxed sitting posture.

4. A hydromassage tub assembly in accordance with claim 1, characterized by a pump suction connection installed in said tub in the region of said end wall to assure a reversing flow path of water from said jet head assemblies to said pump suction connection.

5. A hydromassage tub assembly in accordance with claim 4, characterized by a flange surrounding said cavity, an apron depending from said flange along a side wall portion thereof, a platform extending from said apron to said end wall, a pump installed on said platform, a flow connection from said pump suction connection to the suction end of said pump, and a discharge connection from said pump to each of said arm rest jet head assemblies.

6. A hydromassage tub assembly in accordance with claim 5, characterized by a jet head assembly installed in said end wall, and a flow connection thereto from the discharge connection to one of said arm rest jet head assemblies. 

1. A hydromassage tub assembly comprising a bathtub having an elongated cavity bounded in part by side walls and an end wall, an arm rest along each side wall adjacent said end wall and terminating in a substantially vertical wall, and a hydromassage jet head assembly installed in each of said arm rest vertical walls.
 2. A hydromassage tub assembly in accordance with claim 1, characterized by a hydromassage jet head assembly installed in said end wall.
 3. A hydromassage tub assembly in accordance with claim 1, characterized by a second end wall opposite said first end wall, said second end wall being of shallow slope to permit of a comfortable substantially full reclining position in said tub, while said first end wall with said arm rests permit of a relaxed sitting posture.
 4. A hydromassage tub assembly in accordance with claim 1, characterized by a pump suction connection installed in said tub in the region of said end wall to assure a reversing flow path of water from said jet head assemblies to said pump suction connection.
 5. A hydromassage tub assembly in accordance with claim 4, characterized by a flange surrounding said cavity, an apron depending from said flange along a side wall portion thereof, a platform extending from said apron to said end wall, a pump installed on said platform, a flow connection from said pump suction connection to the suction end of said pump, and a discharge connection from said pump to each of said arm rest jet head assemblies.
 6. A hydromassage tub assembly in accordance with claim 5, characterized by a jet head assembly installed in said end wall, and a flow connection thereto from the discharge connection to one of said arm rest jet head assemblies. 